World Cup Positional Depth - Lock

Lock

I think we’ll take 3 plus a Lock/flank hybrid.

Definitely on the plane: Etzebeth, Du Toit, Mostert

Fantastic 3 and we’re lucky to have them.

The  good chances:  RG Snyman, Lood

RG has been a revelation he’s a monster but excellent hands too, and he runs lovely lines. Lood has been out for a while.

There’s a good chance we select RG and Lood and select Du Toit purely as a flanker.

I've done the tight 5 if there's still an interest for further position I'd be happy to do it to encourage further discussion. 

Steph looks a better bet at flank, but can play lock. I'm not sold on Mostert as our starter. Snyman is our best partner for Eben. Lood is not a test lock, certainly not if we want to play a modern game. My lock hierarchy:

Eben > Snyman > Steph > Mostert > everyone else > Lood

I think he is replaceable. I haven't seen anything to suggest he is a difference in our lineout. I will say he handled the duty better than Steph. 

APD

I doubt whether Mostert and even Snyman will make the grade,  I think there will be four locks going and my likely bet is that they will be - 

*   Etzebeth

*   Schickerling

*   De Jager

*   Du Toit

If the latter is to be used as a loosie - Snyman may have a better chance than Mostert to go.  

If Rassie went that route he'd be a fool. 

Mike what's Rassie done to suggest that he'll suddenly select Shickerling out of nowhere? He's got great potential but Rassie won't select 2 locks who haven't played a game for the boks this year (Lood, Shickerling) After the WC sure, but he'll stick to the guys who have been learning the system I'd imagine.

The way will be determined by performances in Super rugby next year - where performances will be assessed.   Aside from Etzebeth De Jager is the most certain lock to be selected.  Erasmus before the test season started and before De Jager's injury already identified him as a certainty.   

As to Schickerling - he is a better performing lock than either Snyman or Mostert is.   His problem was he was held out from the Stormers lock position by Etzebeth and Du Toit.   But this year Etzebeth was injured and he made hay.   He is a definite investment for the future - being only 22 years old.

I do think that if Schickerling perform well in Super Rugby next year - he will be on the flight.      

Lood has no hands, no endurance, no mobility, isn't our best jumper, is good tackling only what's right in front to him. No. This is not even remotely our second be st lock. There is nothing Lood does that Snyman doesn't do better. 

Prejudiced BS to be ignored.  None of what hew rote above is tr ue